The Essential Guide to Coffee for Beginners

The Essential Guide to Coffee for Beginners

Coffee is a popular drink among the general public, but for beginners, it is very important to understand and master the basic knowledge and skills of coffee. This article will provide you with a comprehensive and concise coffee beginner's guide to help you quickly get started and enjoy delicious coffee.

1. Coffee Bean Selection

Choosing high-quality, fresh coffee beans is the key to making delicious coffee. First, make sure to buy a brand from a reliable supplier with a good reputation. Secondly, when purchasing, pay attention to the origin, roasting date, and roasting degree marked on the package. Finally, try to choose beans that are whole, unbroken, smooth, and have no signs of oil seepage.

2. Grinding and Storage

In order to maintain the best taste and flavor, it is recommended to grind the beans on site before use. If there is no on-site grinding machine, you can buy pre-packaged coffee beans that have not been opened for a long time or have been opened but sealed well. In addition, in order to prevent coffee beans from getting damp, oxidizing and losing flavor, they should be stored in a dry, cool and sealed container.

3. Coffee roasting degree

Different degrees of coffee roasting will bring different tastes and flavors. Light roasting usually has a more sour, floral and lighter taste; medium roasting is more balanced while retaining a certain acidity and sweetness; deep roasting will produce bitterness, richness and heavy taste. Beginners can choose coffee beans that suit their taste according to their preferences.

4. Coffee brewing method

Brewing is one of the key steps to making delicious coffee. Here are a few common and easy brewing methods that will give you great results:

• Drip: Use a paper or metal filter to force water through a filter cup filled with finely ground coffee powder or granules to produce a clear, lighter-tasting coffee.
• French press: Mix coarsely ground coffee beans with hot water, let soak for a while, then use a piston to push down the coffee grounds to get a mellow and oily coffee.
• Espresso: A small amount of finely ground coffee is brought into contact with a small amount of water under high pressure to produce a strong and rich espresso.

5. Add milk and seasoning

If you like to add milk or other flavorings to your coffee for extra flavor, here are a few common and popular options:

• Milk: You can choose whole, semi-skimmed or fat-free milk. Add the right amount of foam to make classic drinks such as latte and cappuccino.
• Chocolate: You can use cocoa powder or chocolate paste to increase the sweetness and richness of your coffee.
• Vanilla syrup: can add a sweet taste to coffee, suitable for people who like dessert flavor.

6. Coffee Maker Selection

It is also very important to choose coffee utensils that suit your needs and taste preferences. The following are several common and practical coffee utensils:

• Hand brewing kettle: simple and easy to use and easy to control parameters such as brewing time and water temperature, suitable for beginners.
• Espresso machine: produces rich, smooth espresso with a fine foam texture through high pressure.
• French Press: Easy to use and produces a rich, oily coffee.

7. Stock up on basic skills

- Hot water temperature: Try to use hot water between 90℃-96℃ (may vary for different brewing methods).

- Ratio control: Generally speaking, you need to use 10 grams of coffee powder or granules for every 150 ml of water.

- Brewing time: Different brewing methods and personal taste preferences will affect the brewing time, which can be adjusted according to your preferences.

Conclusion

By reading this article, you have learned the essential knowledge and skills for coffee beginners. Remember, you must be patient and practice while enjoying delicious coffee. Only by constantly trying and gradually mastering these skills can you become a true expert in tasting coffee!